Derrick-frame and joint-coupling therefor.



Patented lune mylsoz.

J. H. LHNER.

DERRICK FRAME ND JOINT COUPLING THEREFOR.

' (Applicationfiled Mar. 5. 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

TH: walvis PETERS no.. vnomLrmov. WASHINGTON, Dy c,

Patented June I0, |902.

J. H. LOHNER. DERRICKLFRAME AND JOINT COUPLING THEHEFOR.

(Applcatnn filed Mar. 5, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

I l l l l l l I I 1 I 1 l l 1 n mw W E w W A ffl" ys UNITET) STATESPATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH I'IENERY LOHNER, OF BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

DERRICKPFRAME AND JOINT-COUPLING THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION `forming part of Letters Patent No. 702,227, dated June10, 1902.

Application led March 5, 1902. Serial No. 96,786. (No model.)

TD all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH I-IENEEY Loi-i- NER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Bradford, in the county of Mc- Kean andStateof Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Derrick-Frame andJoint-Coupling Therefor, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

This invention relatesto derricks used in the drilling of deep Wells andfor other purposes, and has for its object to provide a derrick-frame,which may be formed either of wood or of metal, with novel details ofconstruction that adapt the parts thereof for very convenient andreliable connection when the frame is being erected and also enabletheir detachment readily when the derrick is to be removed.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, as is hereinafter described, and defined inthe appended claims. Y

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification,`

in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts inall the figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of the upper portion of a derrick-frameembodying features of the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinalsectional View taken substantially on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isa longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 inFig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view takensubstantially on the line 4 4 in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectionalplan view taken substantially on ,the line 5 5 in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of a corner hanger-iron for the top of thederrick-frame. Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a coupling for the legportions of the derrick-frame. Fig. S is a `perspective View of the topring of the derrick-frame and the corner-brackets therefor. Fig. 9 is atransverse sectionalview substantially on the line 9 9 in Fig. '7, andFig. 10 is a perspective view of a locking-key employed.

The legs or corner-posts ,of the derrickframe are each formed of similarstraight bars 11, technically known as angle-bars, and which may be ofwood or metal, each being L. shape in cross-section. The several bars11, that together form a corner-post for the derrick-frame, areconnected together in sequence by novel coupling-boxes that individuallyreceive and hold in alinement the end portions of two adjacent bars 11,said coupling-boxes being each constructed as follows: Tworight-angularly bent wall-plates 12 12a are held suitably spaced apartin parallel planes by an integral or secured transverse web-block 13,that is positioned at the longitudinal center of the Wall-plates, asbest shown in Figs. 7and 9. face of the inner wall-plate 12 three bosses14 are projected at equal distances of separation along each free sideedge of said Wallplate, two bosses at each edge beingV located near endsof the plate 12 and the intermediate boss at its longitudinal center, sothat the central boss at one side edge will be disposed directlyopposite the web-block 13, which, as shown in Fig. 9, extends toward theangular corner of the outer wall-plate 12, but is of such length as toaline its inner end with the inner surface of the leaf of the innerwallplate 12 not in contact with the web-block.

It will be seen that by the described construction each coupling-boxwill be adapted to :receive the L-shaped ends of two angular bars 11,the space between the right-angular Wall-plates ,12 12a affordingchannels wherein the flanges of the angular bars will slide and fitneatly, whereby said angular bars are nearly joined endwise, theweb-block 13 intervening them.

suitable number of peculiarly-formed lockingkeys is provided forengagement with these keyhole-perforations, `said keys each having acylindrical barrel or shank 15, terminating at one end ina crosshandle-bar 15a andin a lateral locking-toe b at the other end, as shownin Figs. 2, 3, and 10.

In order to permit of connecting together the ends of the post-sectionsor angular bars 11 and holding them in the coupling-boxes, the iiangesof these bars are perforated opposite and similarly to the perforationsin the bosses 14, and when the coupling-boxes are correctly adjustedupon the alined angular bars a locking-key of the described construc=From the inner sur- IOO tion is inserted through each boss andperforated flange of the post-sections or bars, so that the locking-toesb will be outside of the wall-plate 12a and the handle-bar 15a havecontact with the inner wall-plate 12. It will be seen that by forciblyturning the handlebar 15a of each locking-key one-fourth of a revolutionin either direction the toe b on each shank v15 will be similarly turnedand made to bear upon the wall-plate 12a, which will secure together theengaged parts through which the key-Shanks pass. To render thelocking-keys more efficient, the cross-bar or handle 15a is preferablygiven a slightlyarclied form, as shown in Fig. 10, and the keys areformed of resilient metal, so that if the length of the shanks 15 iscorrectly proportioned the handle-bar and toe on each key will bepressed forcibly upon the respective wall-plates 12 12u and thehandle-bar that is normally bent slightly will be straightened, itsresilience serving to compensate for any slight looseness between theengaged parts, and the keys be adapted to firmly but detachably hold thecoupling-boxes in engagement with the post-sections.

In the construction of the derrick-frame the four sectional posts formedof angle-bars joined together endwiseby means of the describedcoupling-boxes are suitably spaced apart and connected together, so thatthey will have their angular corners disposed at the corners of thederrick-frame, and the posts be similarly inclined inwardly at theirupper ends by means of the cross-beams 1G and the diagonal braces 17.The cross-beams 16 are held at their ends upon the wall-plates 12 of therespective cou pling-boxes, there being four cross-beams thus engagedwith each setof four coupling-boxes provided to connect the ends of thecorner-post members 11, and to accomplish this the cross-beams neartheir ends are transversely apertured for the reception of the centralbosses 14 on appropriate wings of the inner wall-plate 12, as clearlyshown in Figs. 2 and 3, these bosses receiving the improved keys, whoseshank members 15 pass through the bosses and lock their toes b upon theouter wall-plates 12a,while the crosshandles 15 forcibly contact withthe inner facesof thecrossbeams,as representedin Figs. 2 and 3. Thediagonal braces 17 are provided in pairs for each side of thederrick-frame, and each pair crosses, as shown in Fig. 1, the ends ofthe braces being cut to t against one crossbeam 16 and likewise abutlaterally upon an end of a similar brace disposed at a right anglethereto. The end portions of the diagonal braces 17 are suitablyapertured for the reception of appropriate bosses 14 and are secured byduplicates of the T-shaped keys, which have been described, so that thecrossvbeams 16 and diagonal braces 17 will be detachably secured uponthe inner surfaces of the inner wall-plates 12 of the improvedcoupling-boxes when the derrick-frarne is erected for service. It is tobe understood that any necessary number of the cross-beams and diagonalbraces are to be employed for stiening the derrick-frame.

Upon the upper ends of the derrick-posts 11 four similar corner-bracketsare hung, said parts being each constructed as shown best in Fig. 6 andconsisting of the following details: Two L-shaped wall-plates 18 18a areheld spaced apart and parallel by an integral web 18), which joins theupper edges of the wallplates together and disposes the bodies of saidplates at such a degree of separation as will afford an L-shaped recessc between the wall-plates for the reception ofthe upper end of arespective angle-iron post member 11, whereon said bracket may be hung,as represented in Figs. 1 and 4. The wall-plates 18 18a, that aredisposed, respectively, on the inner and outer sides of the angle-ironpost members 11 when in place, have return-bent hook-plates 18c 18d,respectively, formed on the lower edges of said wall-plates, thesehook-plates being properly spaced, as at d, from the wall-plates andrendered parallel therewith. A cap-ring 19 is provided, that ispreferably square in plan and is channeled at the corners from the loweredge upwardly, as shown at g, a sufficient distance to permit thecorner-brackets to slide into said recess g its full depth, the sidewalls of4 the cap-ring that are spaced by the recess g then entering andseating in the recesses or spaces d, whereby the hook-plates 18c 18drespectively engage with the inner and outer walls of the cap-ring atits corners, as best shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that when thecapring 19 is placed upon the cornerbrackets mounted upon the upper endsof the derrick-frame posts the latter will be held IOO spaced apart andbraced at their upper ends in a reliable manner. The spaced walls of thecap-ring 19 and corner-brackets, together with each post 1l, areperforated oppositely at proper points, these perforations a beingkeyhole-shaped to admit freely the shanks of keys, such as shown in Fig.10, these keys when fully inserted and adjusted serving to secure thecap-ring in place on the derrickfrarne. Upon the upper portion of theangular cap-ring 19 a border-liange 19a is formed, that extendsupwardly, and in the depression aorded inside of said flange a cap-plate2O is seated, this forming the top wall of the derrick-frame and may beslotted for the reception of a bull-wheel 21, that isl held to rotatetherein, as usual.

It will be evident that by the improved details of constructionhereinbefore described a strong light derrick-frame will be providedthat is easily erected at a desired location and which may be taken downreadily in a safe manner without other tools than a hammer.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. In a derrick, the combination with angularpost-sections,of coupling-boxes adapted to embrace the end portions ofadjacent postsections, and means to secure saidcouplingboxes in place onthe post-sections.

2. In a derrick, the combination witha plurality of angularpost-sections, of couplingboxes, each recessed to receive theangularlydisposed flanges on alined ends of post-sections, and T-shapedkeys adapted to detachably lock the coupling-boxes and post-sectionstogether.

3. In a derrick, the combination with a plurality of angular'post-sections and mating coupling-boxes therefor, of'transverespacingbeams which have their ends engaged with the coupling-boxes, andmeans to detachably secure the post-sections and beams to thecoupling-boxes.

4c. In a derrick, the combination with a plurality of angularpost-sections, of substantially L-shaped coupling-boxes, each having twospaced angular walls between which the flanges of alined ends of thepost-sections will fit, and means to detachably secure the angular postends within the spaces between the angular walls of the coupling-boxes.

5. In a derrick, the combination with a plurality of angularpost-sections, of substantially L-shaped coupling-boxes, each adapted toreceive the end portions of angularpostsections, cross-beams engaged attheir ends with opposite coupling-boxes, and keys insertible inperforations in the boxes and in` iianges of the post-sections, saidkeys being adapted by partial rotation to lockthe posts, beams and boxestogether. p

6. In aderrick, the combination with a plurality of angular corner-postsections and a plurality of mating L-shaped coupling-boxes adapted toreceive the end portions of alined post-sections, of cross-beams engagedby their ends with the walls of the boxes, diagonal braces in likemanner engaging their ends with the boxes, and T-shaped keys passedlthrough alined perforations in the boxes,`

`ends of the cross-beams thereon. i

'7. In a derrick, the combination with four angular posts, of a set ofcorner-brackets, each adapted to seat upon a respective post and embraceits iianges, a cap-ring engaging the corner-brackets, and means tosecure the post ends, corner-brackets and cap-ring together. 8. In aderrick, the combination with a plurality of angular posts, of recessedcornerbrackets thereon, a recessed cap-ring seated over thecorner-brackets in return-'bent hooks thereon, and a cap-plate seatedupon the capring.

9. In a derrick of the character described, a plurality ofcoupling-boxes, each comprising two L-shaped Wall-plates spaced apart bya transverse web-block disposed intermediately of their ends. A

lO. In a derrick of the character described, a plurality oflocking-keys, each comprising a straight cylindrical shank, across-handle at one end of the shank, and a toe projected laterally atthe opposite end of said shank.

11. In a derrick of the character described, a plurality ofcorner-brackets for the top of the derrick-frame, each comprising two L-shaped wall-plates, spaced apart in parallel planes by an integral webat their upper ends, each Wall-plate having a hook-plate bent outwardand upward at the lower end thereof.

12. In a derrick of the character described, the cap-ring, havingrectangular form and also having an L-shaped recess at each corner,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JosnPI-I HEN'ERY` LOHNER. Witnesses:

JAMES J'. CLARK, WILLIAM B. RHODES.

